System and method to interactively update insurance information based on vehicle modifications

ABSTRACT

A computer system includes a memory configured to store instructions and a processor in communication with the memory. The processor upon execution of the instructions effectuates operations configured to prompt a user to select, via a graphical user interface, at least one selected component of a vehicle and provide a plurality of component types compatible with the selected component, the plurality of component types including a custom component type. The operations are further configured to prompt the user to select a custom component type from the plurality of component types for the selected component, generate a customized image including the custom component type based on an initial image and the custom component type, provide the customized image to a user, determine a premium associated with an insurance policy covering the vehicle, wherein the premium is based on the custom component type, and provide the premium to the user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/088,507, filed Apr. 1, 2016, now, U.S. Pat. No. 10,380,697, whichclaims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/138,821 filedMar. 26, 2015, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed embodiments generally relates to a system and method forproviding an interactive GUI vehicle configuration, and moreparticularly, to updating insurance information based on an updatedvehicle configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle owners frequently seek to upgrade a vehicle by exchanging acomponent with a compatible component of a different make or model.However, unless the insurance company is notified about the upgrade, thevehicle insurance owner is not insured for the increased value of theupgraded component. If the vehicle owner does notify the insurancecompany of the upgrade, the insurance policy can be upgraded to coverthe increased value of the upgraded component. However, the vehicleowner may be uninformed until the insurance policy is in effect, whatthe effect of the upgrade is on the premium for the insurance policy, orwhat value the insurance policy would pay out for the vehicle or theupgraded component in the event of a claim for benefits.

When contemplating an upgrade to a vehicle, the vehicle owner does nothave access to insurance information, including how obtaining coveragefor an upgraded component would affect the premium for the insurancepolicy, or what value the insurance policy would pay out for the vehicleor the upgraded component in the event of a claim for benefits.Accordingly, the vehicle owner chooses which component to upgrade andwhich component type to use for the upgrade without access to the impactof the upgrade on insurance policy premiums or replacement value of thevehicle or the upgraded component in the event of a claim for benefits.Accordingly, there is a need for a vehicle owner to be able to accessthis information when contemplating a vehicle purchase, vehiclecustomization, and for a vehicle upgrade.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment a computer system comprises a memory configured tostore instructions and a processor in communication with the memory. Theprocessor upon execution of the instructions effectuates operationsconfigured to prompt a user to select, via a graphical user interface(GUI), at least one selected component of a vehicle and, in response touser selection of a selected component, provide by the GUI a pluralityof component types compatible with the selected component, the pluralityof component types including a custom component type, wherein the customcomponent type is not within an initial set of components for thevehicle. The operations are configured to prompt the user to select acustom component type from the plurality of component types for theselected component, generate a customized image of the vehicle includingthe custom component type based on an initial image of the vehicle andthe custom component type, provide the customized image of the vehicleto a user via the GUI, determine a premium associated with an insurancepolicy covering the vehicle, wherein the premium is based on the customcomponent type, and provide the premium to the user via the GUI.

In another embodiment a computer system comprises a memory configured tostore instructions and a processor disposed in communication with thememory. The processor upon execution of the instructions is configuredto perform image processing on an image of a vehicle to detect a customcomponent of the vehicle, wherein the custom component is not within aninitial set of components for the vehicle. The processor on execution ofthe instructions is configured to determine a premium associated with aninsurance policy covering the vehicle, wherein the premium is based onthe custom component. The processor on execution of the instructions isconfigured to provide the premium to a user.

In another embodiment a method comprises receiving a user selection of aselected component of a vehicle via a graphical user interface (GUI)and, in response to user selection of the selected component, providingby the GUI a plurality of component types interchangeable with theselected component. The method includes prompting the user to select aselected component type from the plurality of component types,generating a customized image of the vehicle including the selectedcomponent type based on an initial image of the vehicle and the selectedcomponent type, providing the customized image of the vehicle to a uservia the GUI, determining a premium associated with an insurance policycovering the vehicle, wherein the premium is based on the selectedcomponent type, and providing the premium to the user via the GUI.

Further aspects will be appreciated on review of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying appendices and/or drawings illustrate variousnon-limiting, example, inventive aspects in accordance with the presentdisclosure:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication network;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example network device/node;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary replacement costdetermination system in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart for preforming an example method inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example image shell of a vehicle, in accordancewith the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example configurable image of a vehicle, inaccordance with the present disclosure; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart for preforming an example method inaccordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

The illustrated embodiments are now described more fully with referenceto the accompanying drawings. The illustrated embodiments are notlimited in any way to what is illustrated as the illustrated embodimentsdescribed below are merely exemplary, which can be embodied in variousforms, as appreciated by one skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to beunderstood that any structural and functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for theclaims and as a representation for teaching one skilled in the art tovariously employ the discussed embodiments. Furthermore, the terms andphrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather toprovide an understandable description of the illustrated embodiments.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that eachintervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lowerlimit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in thatstated range is encompassed within the illustrated embodiments. Theupper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently beincluded in the smaller ranges is also encompassed within theillustrated embodiments, subject to any specifically excluded limit inthe stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of thelimits, ranges excluding either both of those included limits are alsoincluded in the illustrated embodiments.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also beused in the practice or testing of the illustrated embodiments,exemplary methods and materials are now described. All publicationsmentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose anddescribe the methods and/or materials in connection with which thepublications are cited.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, thesingular forms “a”, “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “astimulus” includes a plurality of such stimuli and reference to “thesignal” includes reference to one or more signals and equivalentsthereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

It is to be appreciated the illustrated embodiments discussed below arepreferably a software algorithm, program or code residing on computeruseable medium having control logic for enabling execution on a machinehaving a computer processor. The machine typically includes memorystorage configured to provide output from execution of the computeralgorithm or program.

As used herein, the term “software” is meant to be synonymous with anycode or program that can be in a processor of a host computer,regardless of whether the implementation is in hardware, firmware or asa software computer product available on a disc, a memory storagedevice, or for download from a remote machine. The embodiments describedherein include such software to implement the equations, relationshipsand algorithms described above. One skilled in the art will appreciatefurther features and advantages of the illustrated embodiments based onthe above described embodiments. Accordingly, the illustratedembodiments are not to be limited by what has been particularly shownand described, except as indicated by the appended claims. Allpublications and references cited herein are expressly incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar referencecharacters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1depicts an exemplary communications network 100 in which belowillustrated embodiments may be implemented.

It is to be understood a communication network 100 is a geographicallydistributed collection of nodes interconnected by communication linksand segments for transporting data between end nodes, such as personalcomputers, work stations, smart phone devices, tablets, televisions,sensors and or other devices such as automobiles, etc. Many types ofnetworks are available, with the types ranging from local area networks(LANs) to wide area networks (WANs). LANs typically connect the nodesover dedicated private communications links located in the same generalphysical location, such as a building or campus. WANs, on the otherhand, typically connect geographically dispersed nodes overlong-distance communications links, such as common carrier telephonelines, optical lightpaths, synchronous optical networks (SONET),synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) links, or Powerline Communications(PLC), and others.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an example communication network100 illustratively comprising nodes/devices 101-108 (e.g., sensors 102,client computing devices 103, smart phone devices 105, web servers 106,routers 107, switches 108, and the like) interconnected by variousmethods of communication. For instance, the links 109 may be wired linksor may comprise a wireless communication medium, where certain nodes arein communication with other nodes, e.g., based on distance, signalstrength, current operational status, location, etc. Moreover, each ofthe devices can communicate data packets (or frames) 142 with otherdevices using predefined network communication protocols as will beappreciated by those skilled in the art, such as various wired protocolsand wireless protocols etc., where appropriate. In this context, aprotocol consists of a set of rules defining how the nodes interact witheach other. Those skilled in the art will understand that any number ofnodes, devices, links, etc. may be used in the computer network, andthat the view shown herein is for simplicity. Also, while theembodiments are shown herein with reference to a general network cloud,the description herein is not so limited, and may be applied to networksthat are hardwired.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operations to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an example network computingdevice 200 (e.g., client computing device 103, server 106, etc.) thatmay be used (or components thereof) with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein, e.g., as one of the nodes shown in the network 100. Asexplained above, in different embodiments these various devices areconfigured to communicate with each other in any suitable way, such as,for example, via communication network 100.

Device 200 is intended to represent any type of computer system capableof carrying out the teachings of various embodiments of the presentinvention. Device 200 is only one example of a suitable system and isnot intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use orfunctionality of embodiments of the invention described herein.Regardless, computing device 200 is capable of being implemented and/orperforming any of the functionality set forth herein.

Computing device 200 is operational with numerous other general purposeor special purpose computing system environments or configurations.Examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/orconfigurations that may be suitable for use with computing device 200include, but are not limited to, personal computer systems, servercomputer systems, thin clients, thick clients, hand-held or laptopdevices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set topboxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputersystems, and distributed data processing environments that include anyof the above systems or devices, and the like.

Computing device 200 may be described in the general context of computersystem-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executedby a computer system. Generally, program modules may include routines,programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and so on thatperform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.Computing device 200 may be practiced in distributed data processingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices thatare linked through a communications network. In a distributed dataprocessing environment, program modules may be located in both local andremote computer system storage media including memory storage devices.

Device 200 is shown in FIG. 2 in the form of a general-purpose computingdevice. The components of device 200 may include, but are not limitedto, one or more processors or processing units 216, a system memory 228,and a bus 218 that couples various system components including systemmemory 228 to processor 216.

Bus 218 represents one or more of any of several types of busstructures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus usingany of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and notlimitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture(ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA)bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, andPeripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus.

Computing device 200 typically includes a variety of computer systemreadable media. Such media may be any available media that is accessibleby device 200, and it includes both volatile and non-volatile media,removable and non-removable media.

System memory 228 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 230 and/or cachememory 232. Computing device 200 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 234 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 218 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory 228 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g.,at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the invention.

Program/utility 240, having a set (at least one) of program modules 215,such as underwriting module, may be stored in memory 228 by way ofexample, and not limitation, as well as an operating system, one or moreapplication programs, other program modules, and program data. Each ofthe operating system, one or more application programs, other programmodules, and program data or some combination thereof, may include animplementation of a networking environment. Program modules generallycarry out the functions and/or methodologies of embodiments of theinvention as described herein.

Device 200 may also communicate with one or more external devices 214such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 224, etc.; one or moredevices that enable a user to interact with computing device 200; and/orany devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.) that enable computingdevice 200 to communicate with one or more other computing devices. Suchcommunication can occur via Input/Output (I/O) interfaces 222. Stillyet, device 200 can communicate with one or more networks such as alocal area network (LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or apublic network (e.g., the Internet) via network adapter 220. Asdepicted, network adapter 220 communicates with the other components ofcomputing device 200 via bus 218. It should be understood that althoughnot shown, other hardware and/or software components could be used inconjunction with device 200. Examples, include, but are not limited to:microcode, device drivers, redundant processing units, external diskdrive arrays, RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storagesystems, etc.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are intended to provide a brief, general description of anillustrative and/or suitable exemplary environment in which embodimentsof the below described present invention may be implemented. FIGS. 1 and2 are exemplary of a suitable environment and are not intended tosuggest any limitation as to the structure, scope of use, orfunctionality of an embodiment of the present invention. A particularenvironment should not be interpreted as having any dependency orrequirement relating to any one or combination of components illustratedin an exemplary operating environment. For example, in certaininstances, one or more elements of an environment may be deemed notnecessary and omitted. In other instances, one or more other elementsmay be deemed necessary and added.

With the exemplary communication network 100 (FIG. 1) and computingdevice 200 (FIG. 2) being generally shown and discussed above,description of certain illustrated embodiments of the present inventionwill now be provided.

With reference now to FIG. 3, a block diagram of an exemplaryreplacement cost determination system 300 is shown. The replacement costdetermination system 300 includes an insurance web server 106 thatcommunicates with one or more client devices, such as client computingdevices 103 and smart phones 105. The insurance web server 106 includesa data analysis module 302. The data analysis module includes a userinterface (UI) module 306 that manages communication between theinsurance web server 106 and the client devices 103 and 105, a vehicleidentifier 308, an interactive image generator 310, and an insurancecalculator 312.

The insurance web server 106 can access information in one or moredatabases. Examples of databases include a vehicle identifier database322, a vehicle images database 324, a component types database 326, acomponent images database 328, and an insurance policy database 330. Inembodiments, the vehicle identifier database 322 correlates vehicleidentification information to configuration information about thevehicles. The configuration information can include, for example, themake, model, and year of the vehicle as well as other generalconfiguration information about the vehicle, such as number ofcylinders, number of doors, color, number of passengers it canaccommodate, type of transmission, number of wheels, motorcycle category(e.g., all terrain vehicle (ATV), street, moped, street standard, streetcruiser, scooter, etc.), boat type (e.g., motor yacht, house boat,etc.), boat length, and plane type (e.g., single engine prop, turboprop, etc.).

In certain illustrated embodiments, the vehicle identifier database 322correlates configuration information with a vehicle that most closelyresembles the configuration information.

The replacement cost determination system 300 can provide replacementcost information for a variety of different types of vehicles andassociated components. For illustrative purposes only, and withoutlimitation, the description below is directed to motorcycles.Accordingly, the description below can be applied to other types ofvehicles, with or without motors, such as automobiles, motorcycles,bicycles, boats, planes, and recreational vehicles, without limitationthereto.

The vehicle images database 324 correlates vehicle configurationinformation to shell images of vehicles. Each shell image provides aninitial image of a vehicle. The shell image can include an outline forthe vehicle that shows the vehicle's general shape and features. Theshell image can include an initial set of components that are associatedwith parts of the motorcycle, e.g., wheels, exhaust, audio, suspension,etc. The initial set of components can be generic, or alternatively canbe specified to have particular characteristics. For example, theinitial set of components can be standard components, such as componentswithout upgrades that are provided on a standard motorcycle by thefactory. In certain illustrated embodiments, the shell image does notinclude components, or includes a partial set of components.

In certain illustrated embodiments, a component can be a non-interactivedisplayed feature of the image that does not respond to user actions. Incertain illustrated embodiments, the component can be semi-interactivesuch that information is output to a user (e.g., by display or audio)upon selection of the component. For example, when a user hovers aposition control indicator, such as a cursor over the component,information about the component can be displayed to the user. Forexample, the user can operate a user input device, such as a keyboard ormouse, to move a cursor so that it hovers over the component for aminimal time period, upon which a bubble having information about thecomponent can be displayed next to the component.

The component types database 326 can include a collection of componenttypes for different components of a motorcycle. The components can haveassociated information, such as market price range, compatibility withmotorcycles (e.g., based on configuration information of themotorcycles), types of motorcycles, and/or other components. Forexample, the component types database 326 can include a collection ofdifferent types of wheels, each wheel type having an associated partnumber, name, make, model, market price range, and/or designation ofmotorcycle types that the wheel type is compatible with. The componentimages database 328 can include images for the different component typesstored in the component types database 326. The images can be associatedwith a part number, name, make, and/or model of the component type thatuniquely identifies the component type. Those skilled in the art willreadily understand that the component types database 326 and thecomponent image database 328 can be combined.

The insurance policy database 330 stores vehicle insurance policyinformation for a plurality of individuals. The insurance policyinformation can include replacement value information for an insuredvehicle, replacement value information for a component of an insuredvehicle, and premium information associated with policy that a customerpays to keep the policy in good standing.

With reference now to FIG. 4, shown is a flowchart 400 demonstratingimplementation of the various exemplary embodiments. Flowchart 400includes operations that can be performed by the web server 106. It isnoted that the order of operations shown in FIG. 4 is not required, soin principle, the various operations may be performed out of theillustrated order. Also certain operations may be skipped, differentoperations may be added or substituted, or selected operations or groupsof operations may be performed in a separate application following theembodiments described herein.

At operation 402, identification data relating to a vehicle is received,e.g., from a client computing device 103 or a client smart phone 105.The identification data can include information that identifies aparticular vehicle, such as a vehicle identification number (VIN). Theidentification data can identify a particular vehicle by including aregistration or license plate number and can further include additionalconfiguration data, such as make, model and/or year.

In embodiments, the identification data can include configuration datathat describes a customized vehicle. The vehicle can actually exist orbe fictitious. The identification information may not includeinformation that identifies a particular vehicle, but that ratherdescribes the vehicle in accordance with the way that it is customized.The GUI module 306 may provide a GUI via which a user can enter theconfiguration data for the customized vehicle. The GUI can beinteractive and provide selections for a user to select from, such as byproviding a dropdown menu of selections or navigation choices. The usercan use a variety of tools provided by the GUI's tools to make or modifyselections in order to enter configuration data that meets the user'scriteria.

At operation 404, a vehicle is identified in the vehicle identifierdatabase. The vehicle identified can be the particular vehicle that wasidentified by the identification data. Once the particular vehicle isidentified, configuration for the data is determined, such as make,model, year, type of vehicle, weight, and/or number of passengers thatcan be accommodated by the vehicle. In embodiments in whichconfiguration data was entered by the user to identify a customizedvehicle, step 404 can be omitted, or at step 404 the vehicle identifiedcan be the closest fit determined to satisfy the criteria associatedwith user entered configuration data.

At operation 406, an image is acquired for the identified vehicle orcustomized vehicle based on the configuration data that was entered bythe user or was associated with the vehicle identified at operation 404.The image can be acquired automatically using database searchingtechniques, or manually with human analysis, from the vehicle imagesdatabase 324. In embodiments the image can be acquired from the WorldWide Web. Selection of the image from the World Wide Web can beperformed automatically, such as by using web crawling techniques tosearch web sites of the World Wide Web. Manual techniques that use humananalysis to search the World Wide Web can also be used.

At operation 408, the image acquired at operation 406 can be processedto form an image shell that includes an outline for the identifiedvehicle that shows its general shape and features. In embodiments, theacquired image can include indications, such as outlines, of one or moreexternal components. Each vehicle type has components that are includedin each vehicle. In the present example for a motorcycle vehicle, theimage shell can include an indication, such as an outline, of componentstypically included in motorcycle vehicles, including externalcomponents, such as a handlebar, wheels, footrests, exhaust, seat,lights, and bodywork.

The image shell can be generated using image processing techniques, suchas optical recognition and/or edge recognition to detect features andedges of the image acquired at operation 404. A determination is madewhich recognizes lines and features of the acquired image to retain inthe image shell, and which lines and features to remove from the imageshell. At operation 410, the image can be further processed to generatea configurable image that includes configurable initial components. Oneor more of the initial components can be associated with an interactiveelement that provides an interactive capability for configuring thecomponent. The user can indicate via the GUI which components are to beprovided with interactive capability.

Operation 410 includes using information that is provided by theconfiguration information about the components of the identifiedvehicle. The component types database 326 can be consulted to determineinitial components for the vehicle, such as based on the configurationinformation, e.g., model, make, and year of the vehicle. The initialcomponents can be standard component types, as determined from thecomponent types database 326. The component images database 328 can beconsulted to acquire images of the initial components and to integrateimages of the initial components into the configurable image.

At least one of the initial components is associated with an interactiveelement of the GUI causing the initial component to be a configurablecomponent. The interactive element can include the ability to detectwhen the associated component is selected, such as by highlighting,clicking on, right-clicking on, or hovering over the component inaccordance with operation of a user input device, such as a mouse,keyboard, or touch screen. The interactive element further facilitateschanging the configurable image in response to the user input.

Interactive elements can be associated with external components of thevehicle, such as wheels, exhaust, and seat, and/or with internalcomponents of the vehicle, such as suspension, drive, and transmission.The user can interact with the interactive elements associated with boththe external components or the internal components. For example, inembodiments, the configurable image can be viewed in a first mode inwhich the interactive elements associated with the external componentscan be accessed by the user, and a second mode in which the interactiveelements associated with the internal components can be accessed by theuser.

At operation 412, in response to detection at operation 410 of userselection of a component by the associated interactive element,selections are provided, e.g., displayed, to the user to prompt the userto select a component type for the selected component. The componenttypes database 326 is consulted to determine which component types canbe used for the selected component. Information related to the componenttypes can also be acquired, such as market price and availabilityinformation. The component types available for selection can bedisplayed, for example, as a pop-up menu. Related information for eachcomponent type selection can be displayed with the selection, or asancillary to the selection, such displayed in a bubble uponright-clicking on or hovering over the selection.

At operation 414, the configurable image is updated based on theselected component type. The component images database 328 can beconsulted to acquire an image of the selected component. The interactiveelement associated with the component being updated indicates thelocation in the configurable image for integrating the image of theselected component into the configurable image. Image processingtechniques can be used to determine the orientation and sizing of theimage of the selected component for integration into the configurableimage.

Operations 412 and 414 can be performed repeatedly, such that a user caninteract with the configurable image to select a component, and select acomponent type for the selected component from a menu of component typeselections. The configurable image can be updated each time that acomponent type is selected.

At operation 416, insurance information related to replacement cost forthe selected component type is determined. The insurance information caninclude the replacement cost for the component based on the selectedcomponent type or the replacement cost for the vehicle. The insuranceinformation can also include the change in replacement cost relative tothe present replacement cost or a previously determined replacement costdetermined during a previous iteration of operation 416.

The insurance information can also include the insurance premium forinsuring the vehicle based on the selected component type. The insuranceinformation can also include the change in insurance premium relative tothe present insurance premium or a previously determined insurancepremium determined during a previous iteration of operation 416.

At operation 418, the insurance information determined at operation 416is provided to the user, such as by displaying the insurance informationor generating a printable report. Operations 416 and 418 can beperformed each time that a component is reconfigured by selecting adifferent component type at operation 412. In certain illustratedembodiments, operations 416 and 418 can be performed upon request, suchas by selecting an actuator provided on the GUI to request updatedinsurance information in accordance with the current component typeselections.

A user can continue to operate the GUI to select different componentsand component types and obtain updated insurance information.Accordingly, the user can view the insurance information associated witha contemplated purchase to make an informed decision whether to upgradethe vehicle and/or to upgrade the insurance following a vehicle upgrade.The updated insurance information is theoretical, and does not affectthe user's actual coverage. The GUI can also provide an option for theuser to submit a request to update the user's actual present insurancecoverage.

In certain illustrated embodiments, the GUI can provide a capability forthe user to renew or update an existing insurance policy. The GUI canpresent an image of the user's vehicle, including images of thecomponents and designating component types for the components inaccordance with the insurance company's information of record at thattime. The user can interact with the image by selecting a component todetermine the component type of record for that component. The user canupdate the component type for that component if it is not accurate, viewthe effect of the update on the insurance information, and/or submit arequest to update the insurance coverage in accordance with thecomponent type update.

With reference to FIG. 5, an illustration is provided of an exampleshell image 500 generated from an image of the identified motorcycleacquired at operation 406 of the method shown in flowchart 400. Theshell image 500 includes a perimeter outline 502 of the vehicle and anoutline 504 of one or more detected external components of the vehicle,such as wheels and an exhaust.

With reference to FIG. 6, an illustration is provided of an exampleconfigurable image 600 generated from shell image 500. The configurableimage 600 includes the perimeter outline 502 of the vehicle, indicatorlines 602 showing the location on the vehicle of external componentsthat have associated interactive elements, and indicator lines 604 ofinternal components that have associated interactive elements.

With reference now to FIG. 7, shown is a flowchart 700 demonstratingimplementation of the various exemplary embodiments. Flowchart 700includes operations that can be performed by the web server 106. It isnoted that the order of operations shown in FIG. 7 is not required, soin principle, the various operations may be performed out of theillustrated order. Also certain operations may be skipped, differentoperations may be added or substituted, or selected operations or groupsof operations may be performed in a separate application following theembodiments described herein.

At operation 702, a recorded sound file is received that includesrecording of a sound associated with operation of the vehicle. Atoperation 704, analytics are performed on the sound file to determine acomponent of the vehicle used to cause the sound. At operation 706, areplacement cost is determined for the component that was determined.The replacement cost that was determined is provided to the user.

With certain illustrated embodiments described above, it is to beappreciated that various non-limiting embodiments described herein maybe used separately, combined or selectively combined for specificapplications. Further, some of the various features of the abovenon-limiting embodiments may be used without the corresponding use ofother described features. The foregoing description should therefore beconsidered as merely illustrative of the principles, teachings andexemplary embodiments of this invention, and not in limitation thereof.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are onlyillustrative of the application of the principles of the illustratedembodiments. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may bedevised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope ofthe illustrated embodiments, and the appended claims are intended tocover such modifications and arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer system comprising: a memory configuredto store instructions; a processor in communication with the memory,wherein the processor upon execution of the instructions effectuatesoperations configured to: prompt a user to select, via a graphical userinterface (GUI), at least one selected component of a vehicle; inresponse to user selection of a selected component, provide by the GUI aplurality of component types compatible with the selected component, theplurality of component types including a custom component type, whereinthe custom component type is not within an initial set of components forthe vehicle; prompt the user to select a custom component type from theplurality of component types for the selected component; generate acustomized image of the vehicle including the custom component typebased on an initial image of the vehicle and the custom component type;provide the customized image of the vehicle to a user via the GUI;determine a premium associated with an insurance policy covering thevehicle, wherein the premium is based on the custom component type; andprovide the premium to the user via the GUI.
 2. The computer system asrecited in claim 1, wherein the processor upon execution of theinstructions is configured to determine a replacement cost for thevehicle based on a replacement cost for the custom component type,wherein the premium is based on the replacement cost.
 3. The computersystem as recited in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is one of amotorcycle, automobile, boat, plane, or other recreational vehicle. 4.The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the selectedcomponent is one of an exhaust system, wheel, engine componenttransmission component, seat type, chassis component, sound systemcomponent, alarm component, and instrumentation component.
 5. Thecomputer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the custom component typeis one of a model, make, grade, and style of the selected component. 6.The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user selects twoor more components in response to the prompt, wherein the two or morecomponents represent the custom component type and at least oneadditional component, and wherein the premium is based on the at leastone additional component.
 7. The computer system as recited in claim 1,wherein the processor upon execution of the instructions is configuredto: determine orientation and sizing for the custom component typebefore generating the customized image of the vehicle.
 8. A computersystem comprising: a memory configured to store instructions; and aprocessor disposed in communication with the memory, wherein theprocessor upon execution of the instructions is configured to: prompt auser to select, via a graphical user interface (GUI) of a computingdevice, at least one selected component of a vehicle; perform imageprocessing on an image of the vehicle to detect a custom component typefor the at least one selected component of the vehicle, wherein thecustom component is not within an initial set of components for thevehicle; determine a premium associated with an insurance policycovering the vehicle, wherein the premium is based on the customcomponent; and provide the premium to a user via the GUI.
 9. Thecomputer system as recited in claim 8, wherein the processor uponexecution of the instructions is configured to determine a replacementcost of the custom component, and wherein the replacement cost of thecustom component is associated with an insurance policy.
 10. Thecomputer system as recited in claim 9, wherein the processor uponexecution of the instructions is configured to determine a premiumassociated with the insurance policy based on the replacement cost. 11.The computer system as recited in claim 8, wherein the processor uponexecution of the instructions is configured to determine a replacementcost for the vehicle based on the determined replacement cost.
 12. Thecomputer system as recited in claim 8, wherein the vehicle is one of amotorcycle, automobile, boat, plane, or other recreational vehicle. 13.The computer system as recited in claim 8, wherein the custom componenttype is different from a corresponding component of the initial set ofcomponents based on one of a model, make, grade, and style.
 14. Amethod, comprising: executing instructions stored on a computer-readablemedium using a processor, said instructions when executed by saidprocessor configured for: receiving a user selection of a selectedcomponent of a vehicle via a graphical user interface (GUI) of acomputing device; in response to user selection of the selectedcomponent, providing by the GUI a plurality of component typesinterchangeable with the selected component; prompting the user toselect a selected component type from the plurality of component types;generating a customized image of the vehicle including the selectedcomponent type based on an initial image of the vehicle and the selectedcomponent type; providing the customized image of the vehicle to a uservia the GUI; determining a premium associated with an insurance policycovering the vehicle, wherein the premium is based on the selectedcomponent type; and providing the premium to the user via the GUI. 15.The method as recited in claim 14, comprising: determining orientationand sizing for the selected component type before generating thecustomized image of the vehicle.
 16. The method of claim 14, comprising:determining a replacement cost for the vehicle based on the replacementcost that was determined for the selected component type, wherein thepremium is based on the replacement cost.
 17. The method of claim 14,wherein the vehicle is one of a motorcycle, automobile boat, plane, orother recreational vehicle.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein theselected component is one of an exhaust system, wheel, engine componenttransmission component, seat type, chassis component, sound systemcomponent, alarm component, and instrumentation component.
 19. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the selected component type is one of amodel, make, grade, and style of the selected component.
 20. The methodof claim 14, wherein the user selects two or more components in responseto the prompt, wherein the two or more components represent the selectedcomponent and at least one additional component, and wherein the premiumis based on the at least one additional component.